Navanna Purnima – Navana Poornima

Navana Purnima is the full moon day in Ashwin Month (September – October), which is popularly observed as Kojagari Poornima and Sharad Purnima. Navana Purnima 2017 date is October 5. The full moon day is known as Navanna because people use fresh grains to cook sweets and other food items.

Nava means ‘new’ and Anna means ‘food’.

Fresh crop is used to make kheer – a sweet from milk, sugar and fresh rice. In some regions fresh corn is used to make different food items.

The food is eaten in an open space under moonlight on the day. The popular belief is that moon is closest to earth on the day and therefore its rays on the day have curative properties.